THE master showman may have been sidelined at Skilled Stadium yesterday but, as any director would say, the show must go on. Unfortunately for Gold Coast, Geelong opted to put on a show of its own, handing out a predictable belting to the young Suns.

That showman, of course, was Gary Ablett, absent due to a hamstring injury. However, had the former Cat taken to the field, there's little doubt the result would not have been any different.

This was a Geelong side determined to make yet another bold statement. Steve Johnson had complained through the week the Cats had not been given enough credit in their 186-point thumping of the Demons last weekend, a brilliant performance somewhat lost amid the fallout at Melbourne.

If that was the case then yesterday, thanks this time to a 150-point mauling, was a day to praise their sublime skills. Johnson, in particular, was superb. He was everywhere in the first term, kicking four goals and even imparting pain on teammate James Podsiadly when he crunched the power forward in a pack mark. Even then, the Cats were rewarded when veteran Cameron Mooney, demonstrating the mobility of a rover, scooped up the loose ball and goaled.

Podsiadly would recover quickly and be among the Cats' best, finishing with five goals and, just as importantly, working well in conjunction with fellow talls Tom Hawkins (two goals, seven marks) and Mooney (three goals, four marks). Johnson would go on and kick another two goals in a vintage 31-disposal effort.

By the time this so-called contest was over, it was hard to imagine both sides had been locked on three goals apiece midway through the first term.

The Cats then drilled 15 straight goals and topped the ton by half-time, effectively rendering the second half redundant.

The debate last night was whether a fortnight of thrashings had been a good thing for the Cats with finals on the horizon. Indeed, such was the humdrum feeling among supporters that there was barely a cheer at the three-quarter-time siren when the Cats led by 97 points.

There could be another huge victory on the way when they face Adelaide at AAMI Stadium next Sunday, before the bye awaits. Tougher contests against Sydney and Collingwood then beckon before the real business begins.

Despite the magnitude of the victory, Podsiadly, who was rested against the Demons, last night said the Cats still had work to do, even though they posted what is believed to be a record 80 inside 50s.

''I will probably look back and assess that we can improve, that's all I will look at really. We can still improve,'' he said. ''Our delivery into the forward line wasn't great.''

The Suns undoubtedly will learn plenty from the defeat, and not just that they need their youngsters to physically mature post haste.

The power of the Cats' press was simply too much for the Suns to work through, although they weren't helped by a serious hip injury to defender Campbell Brown in the first term.

A burst of three straight goals to start the third term did show a welcome resoluteness, although the Cats would respond in kind.

Still, the sight of Trent McKenzie slotting through a 55-metre goal from just inside the boundary with his trusty left foot - make that cannon - would indicate the Suns have good times to look forward to.

For the Cats, Joel Corey was irrepressible before he was subbed off at half-time with knee soreness. In hindsight, the Cats may have waited to activate Tom Lonergan as Matthew Scarlett would soon be consigned to the bench with a knee injury. It didn't matter.

Still a favourite son

If Gary Ablett had feared he would draw the ire of his former fans, he needn't have worried. Indeed, there was little reason for the Geelong locals to be angry yesterday as Ablett was unable to play because of a hamstring injury. Ablett was given a rousing ovation from those sitting in and around the Reg Hickey Stand near the Suns' dressing room, and reciprocated by signing autographs for several youngsters.

Kicking on

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Jimmy Bartel has slipped somewhat under the radar in recent weeks. The champion onballer appeared a little sluggish when he returned from yet another concussion mid-year but clearly has rediscovered his groove. His ability to find the ball in the midfield is second to none, while yesterday he was able to drift forward and kick two goals in the second term.

Purring along

If Geelong fans were truly honest, there was little to really enthuse about in the final quarter. The overwhelmed Suns were held goalless while the Cats slotted through eight for the term in what appeared more a training session than a serious game of football. That David Wojcinski was allowed to take possession at half-back, steam through the middle of the field, have five bounces and goal from about 40 metres typified the dominance of the home team.